La Russa brings Rasmus a ring, but they fail to connect again

NEW YORK – Tony La Russa dropped by the visitors’ clubhouse at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday morning. He had a gift for Colby Rasmus.

In keeping with their history, they failed to connect.

Rasmus, the Toronto Blue Jays’ centre-fielder, did not know his ex-manager was bringing a World Series ring for him. Rasmus was involved in family commitments at the time, he said.

“I just had stuff going on this morning,” Rasmus said before the Blue Jays’ series finale with the Yankees. “I got family and stuff here. I wasn’t able to connect with him. But I sent word that I appreciated it — thanks for the gesture. That was about it. There wasn’t no CIA secret stuff going on.”

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Rasmus played 94 games for La Russa’s Cardinals before he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays last July 27. The two had a well-documented tumultuous relationship, complicated by public criticism of the Cardinals by Rasmus’ father, also named Tony.

Just before Rasmus was traded, La Russa told reporters Rasmus “doesn’t listen to the Cardinal coaches much now,” instead taking coaching advice from his father.

Asked Wednesday whether he would have met with La Russa if he’d had the time, Rasmus replied: “No doubt. It just didn’t work out right.”

After Rasmus was traded, the Cardinals went on to win the World Series, after which La Russa retired from managing.

It is common for players who spend part of a season with a World Series winner to get a ring and a partial share of the winner’s bonus. Rasmus said during spring training that he had received his bonus, which he smilingly labeled “a little somethin’-somethin.’ ”

La Russa left the ring with a Blue Jays official. As he prepared to go on the field for a light pre-game workout, Rasmus said he had not seen the ring.

How did he find out La Russa had stopped by?

“A little birdie told me,” he said.

He said he was pleased to get the ring but politely made it clear that he has left the tribulations of St. Louis behind and is happy as a Blue Jay.

“I put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears over there [in St. Louis],” he said. “Now I’m looking forward to our game today, not trying to get caught up in the stuff that happened. I’m trying to play for this team, glad I’m here, happy to be here, not worried about any of the other stuff.”

After La Russa retired, he was hired as a special adviser to Major League Baseball, which has its headquarters in New York.